Washing machine with coacting motor drive and drain control



Aug. 25, 1953 w A OTT 2,649,705

WASHING MACHINE wiTH COACTING MOTOR DRIVE AND DRAIN CONTROL Filed Sept. 9, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet l IN V EN TOR.

WALTER A. OT T FIG.- I

ATTORNEYS Aug. 25, 1953 w, OTT 2,649,705

WASHING MACHINE WITH COACTING MOTOR DRIVE AND DRAIN CONTROL Filed Sept. 9, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG-4 I I\ 35 A INVEN TOR. 2 WALTER A. OTT

ATTORNEYS Aug. 25, 1953 w. A. OTT

WASHING MACHINE WITH COACTING'MOTOR DRIVE AND DRAIN CONTROL 4 Sheets-Shet :5

Filed Sept. 9, 1949 WALTER A. OTT

FIG-5 ATTORNEYS Aug. 25, 1953 w. A. OTT 2,649,705

WASHING MACHINE WITH COACTING MOTOR DRIVE AND DRAIN CONTROL Filed Sept. 9, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG-8 INVENTOR.

WALTER A. OTT

ATTOR NEYS Patented Aug. 25, 1953 WASHING MACHINE WITH COACTING MOTOR DRIVE AND DRAIN CONTROL Walter A.

Ott, Cleveland, Ohio, assignor, by

mesne assignments, to Paul W. Howard, Cleveland, Ohio Application September 9, 1949, Serial No. 114,778

6 Claims. (01. 68-140) This invention relates to motor driven washing machines, and more particularly to such machines for home or household use.

One object of the invention is to provide an unusually simple machine that can be made and sold at low cost; which may be operated and maintained at low cost; which is of relatively light weight and is easily handled by the housewife; and which can be stored and used in the kitchen of a small home, requiring'no special service connections.

Another object is to provide an improved washing machine including a motor driven rotatable work holding drum by means of which the work is agitated in the detergent liquid and a drain valve for controlling discharge of the detergent liquid, together with a single controller adjustable to two positions in one of which the motor is made efiective to drive the drum and in the other of which the drain valve is opened to discharge the detergent liquid.

Still another object is to provide an improved Washing machine including a rotatable work holding drum and a pivoted cradle supporting a driving motor therefor in such position as to bias the cradle toward a position establishing driving relation between motor and drum.

A further object is to provide an improved washing machine of the character described in the next preceding paragraph here-of in which movement of said cradle, in opposition to said bias, to another position opens a drain valve to discharge the detergent liquid.

Further objects of the invention in part are obvious and in part will appear more in detail hereinafter.

In the drawings, which represent one suitable embodiment of the invention, Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation on the line II, Fig. 2, part only of the wringer being shown;

Fig. 2 is a sectional plan view on the line 2-2, Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a detail View corresponding to Fig. l and showing another position of the parts;

Fig. 4 is a front elevation, on a reduced scale;

Fig. 5 is a rear elevation, part of the casing being omitted to expose interior parts;

Fig. 6 is a detail section on the line 6-6, Fig. 1;

Figs. 7 and 8 are views, corresponding to Figs. 1 and 2, and showing another arrangement; and

Fig. 9 is a View corresponding to Fig. 7 and showing another position of the parts.

The washing machine shown in Figs. 1 to 6 of the drawings comprises an outer housing or casing it) formed of sheet metal and including front,

side and rear walls H, a floor or bottom [2, and a top 13. The top is of inverted tray shape and is removably attached by screws l4 and is provided with a round charging opening closed by a suitable openable cover 15, shown of the lift-off type. In one of the walls, such as the rear wall, is mounted an ordinary switch I 6 for controlling the circuit to the motor later referred to. At the back of the machine a wringer ll, of any suitable form, and usually manually operated, is removably mounted, in any suitable manner, upon the top [3. As shown, the wringer frame is provided with depending posts Ila which pass through openings in top I3 and extend downwardly through alined openings in L-shaped brackets llb welded to the side walls.

Within the chamber of the casing is mounted a work holding drum marked generally [8. This is of simple, relatively inexpensive form. It is shown as made of an imperforate metal sheet rolled or bent into cylindrical form with its end edges welded together, the cylinder thus formed being provided with shallow cup shaped end caps 19 the flanges 20 of which are connected to the cylinder in joints or seams 2|. To said end caps are welded solid end trunnions 22 which are supported in hard wood block bearings 23 mounted in metal pockets 24 fastened to the side walls of the casing. At one point the cylindrical drum wall is provided with a rectangular opening, the edges of which support a rectangular metal frame 25 having a flange 26 which supports a continuous rubber gasket or sealing member 21. This gasket supports the peripheral edge portion of an imperforate removable door or cover 28 provided at one end with projections 29 to enter recesses in frame 25 and at its opposite end with a circular locking ring 3E? pivoted eccentrically on screw 3| and adapted by its rotation, when the gasket is depressed, to be moved into or out of a recess in the same frame. Thus the door may be readily removed or applied, and when applied seals the drum chamber so that no liquid can escape therefrom during drum rotation.

Suitable means is provided for releasably locking the drum in loading and drain position, here shown as a pivotally mounted book mounted on the casing and the hooked end of which manually may be moved into locking engagement with a recess 61 in frame 25.

Vanes or bafiles 32 within the drum assist in agitating the work.

The drum is rotated by an electric motor 33, the shaft of which is provided at one end with a grooved pulley 34 connected by V-belt 35 to a 3 pulley 36 on a shaft 31. Motor 33 and shaft 3'! ar mounted in a frame or cradle 38, made up of suitable metal straps or other members, said cradle being pivotally mounted to turn upon a rod 39 mounted in plate members or posts 40 secured to the casing floor. Shaft 31 carries two friction driving rollers or wheels 4|, each radially opposite the flange of one of the end heads IQ of the drum. These wheels are adapted to be moved into or out of driving relation with the.

drum by tilting motion of the cradle on. shaft 39. The weight of all parts carried by the cradle is so distributed that said cradle is biased by gravity to turn in the clockwise direction, Fig. 1, and thus frictionally apply rollers or wheels to-the drum heads and rotate the drum continuously in one direction when the motor isenergized.

To tilt the cradle in the opposite direction and thus stop drum rotation without stopping the motor, the cradle is provided with a controller comprising an arm 42 connected by link 43 to a lever arm 44 (Fig. on a short shaft 4.5 journalled in the casing wall and provided on the other and outer sideof said wall with an operating crank arm 45. having a spring pressed dog 48 releasable by knob 49 from any of the three look.- ing recesses 56 in quadrant 5i mounted on the rear casing wall.

The opposite end of the shaft of motor 33 directly drives the impeller (notshown) of a water pump 52, carried by cradle 38, the suction side of which pump communicates by pipe 53 with a suitable drain receiver or collector 54, shown as a cup shaped rubber member mounted on a post 55 attached to the cradle and provided at its upper end with an expanded head 56. When the drum is stopped and releasably locked in loading position, as shown in Fig. 1, head 56 lies directly beneath a head on the stem of a drain valve 51 biased to closed position by spring 53. Accordingly, by taking off the drum door 28 and depressing arm 46 and thus elevating link 43, the post 55 is elevated far enough to raise and open the drain valve. All liquid in the drum drains to the cup 54, flows to pump 52 and is discharged through pump outlet pipe 59 into a tub, a sink, a floor drain or any suitable place.

Figs. '7 and 8 show another arrangement in which a similar cup 54 is mounted upon a central tubular metal body member 62 carried by a lever 63, one end of which extends through a slot or opening in the rear wall 1 i and forms a fulcrum about which the lever swings. The cradle 38 is provided with an upwardly extending arm 64 which engages lever 63 and forms an operator therefor.

With this arrangement, when the parts are adjusted to drain position, the central body member 62 engages and actuates drain valve to open it. At the same time, the edge portion of cup 54 engages the cylindrical wall of the drum, around the drain valve, conforms itself to the drum Wall, and becomes tightly sealed thereto. Thus no air can enter the cup and the pump suction is continuous and uninterrupted whenever liquid flows out through the open drain valve.

Also, since the cup is mounted upon one end of a lever pivoted at its opposite end and actuated by pressure applied between its ends multiplication of motion is secured, with wider separation of the cup from the drum than when the cup is carried by the cradle itself.

In either form, when handle is in its middle or neutral position, shown in Fig. 5, the drain valve is closed, the drum is idle, but the motor and pump continue to run.

When the handle is in its upper position the motor, drum and pump are all turning, but the pump is ineffective, because the drain valve is closed.

What I claim is:

1. A washing machine, comprising an imperforate work holding drum rotatable upon a horizontal axis and provided in its cylindrical wall with. oppositely disposed openable door and drain valve members, a pivoted support mounted below the drum, a power operated driving member adapted to engage said drum and carried by said support onone side of its pivotal axis, and an actuator for said drain valve carried by said support on the other side of its pivotal axis, said actuator being adapted to open said drain valve when said drum is stopped with said drain valve in juxtaposition to said. actuator, whereby tilting motion of: said support about its pivotal axis in one direction or the other either establishes driving relation betweenv said driving member and drum or causes the actuator to open the drain valve.

2. A washing machine, comprising an imperiorate work holding drum rotatable upon a horizontal axis and provided in its cylindrical wall with oppositely disposed openable door and drain valve members, a pivoted support mounted below the drum, a power operated driving member adapted to engage said drum and carried by said support on one side of its pivotal axis, and an actuator for said drain valve carried by said support on the other side of its pivotal axis, said actuator being adapted to open said drain valve when said drum is stopped with said drain valve in juxtaposition to said actuator, whereby tilting motion of said support about its pivotal axis in one direction or the other either establishes driving relation between said driving member and drum or causes the actuator to open the drain valve, and a manually operated movable controller operatively connected to said support and having three positions, neutral, drain, and drum driving, selectable at will by the operator.

3. A washing machine of the character described in claim 1, including a movable receptacle for liquid to which the drain valve discharges,said receptacle being located underneath the drain valve and on the other side of the pivotal axis from said driving member, and a suction pump communicating with said receptacle, said pump being mounted upon said pivoted support and said receptacle being movable into and out of sealing relation with the drum surrounding the drain valve.

4. A washing machine of the character described in claim 1, including a motor for operating said driving member, a movable receptacle for liquid to which the drain valve discharges, and a suction pump communicating with said receptacle, said motor, pump and receptacle being mounted upon said pivoted support.

5. A washing machine of the character described in claim 1, including a motor for operating said driving member, a movable receptacle for liquid to which the drain valve discharges, said receptacle being disposed underneath the drain valve and on the other side of the pivotal axis from said driving member and a suction pump communicating with said receptacle, said motor and pump being mounted upon said pivoted support on the opposite side of the pivotal axis from said driving member and being so located 5 thereon that the weight thereof biases said support to turn by gravity toward drum driving position, and said receptacle being movable into and out of sealing relation with the drum surrounding the drain valve.

6. A washing machine of the character described in claim 1, including a motor for operating said driving member, a movable receptacle for liquid to which the drain valve discharges, said receptacle being disposed underneath the drain valve and on the other side of the pivotal axis from said driving member and a suction pump communicating with said receptacle, said motor and pump being mounted upon said pivoted support on the opposite side of the pivotal axis from said driving member and so located theree on that the weight thereof biases said support to turn by gravity toward drum driving position, said receptacle being movable into and out of sealin relation with said drum surrounding the drain valve, and said drum driving member consisting of a friction wheel mounted to frictionally engage the cylindrical surface of the drum for driv- References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Mitchell Oct. 25, 1927 Number 

